Formula 4 News: Lithuanian Tomas Rudokas to race in F4 in 2026
Lithuania’s Tomas Rudokas has signed with the Formelaustria Race Academy (FARA) for the 2026 racing season. Austria’s first official junior driver academy will support the teenager in competing with its Renauer Motorsport Team in both the Formula Winter Series and the F4 Central European Zone Championship.
“We have been following Tomas in karting and were convinced that he was ready to move up to F4. Therefore, we are happy that he is now a member of our academy, and our experts can support him in becoming a thoroughbred single-seater driver,” program director Harry Miltner said.
Born in Vilnius, Lithuania, in 2009, Tomas started karting at the age of seven. He raced in the European, but also in several national championships, crowning himself Lithuanian Champion in 2018 and coming runner-up in the Central European Championship.
Graduating from the Rotax Max Challenge Euro Trophy DD2 in 2024, Tomas got a first taste of GT racing, when he joined the Porsche Sprint Challenge Central Europe for the 2025 season. Thanks to several impressive outings, he caught the eye of the Formelaustria Race Academy scouts and was invited to a sighting test in early October.
Rudokas’ main partner Saily—a digital service offering eSIM data plans for travelers – has helped make his entry in the academy possible and company co-founder Jonas Karklys is thus delighted saying: “We’re thrilled that after his success in karting, Tomas is making the move to Formula 4. It’s one of the most crucial steps in motor sports, where young drivers face intense international competition and gain invaluable opportunities to develop their skills. It’s exciting to see once again a Lithuanian competing in formula racing.”
“During the private F4 tests earlier this year, Tomas has already demonstrated his potential and, most importantly, the right attitude toward hard work,” Karklys added, who is a professional racing driver himself.
16-year-old Rudokas “cannot wait to get back in the F4 car and get going. It’s great that I can take the next step and with the full support of my partner Saily, start in the Formula Winter Series and the F4 CEZ Championship with Formelaustria and Renauer next year. Both series are competitive, and the tracks are cool, so I am excited to get going.”
The Formula Winter Series in Portugal and Spain starts at the end of January 2026 in Estoril, while the F4 CEZ Championship commences in early April at the Red Bull Ring.
Founded in June 2024, the Formelaustria Race Academy, which is supported by F1 legends like Riccardo Patrese or Alex Wurz, is a springboard for young racing talents who dream of reaching F1. Based in Vienna, Austria, drivers with a top karting or a SimRacing background are trained in state-of-the-art Tatuus Formula 4 cars both on and off the track, but also enjoy physical training, mental preparation and media coaching by ex-F1 experts.